The government has announced a £421 million extension to the Household Support Fund for the next six months, which it says will see vulnerable households receive support for the cost of essentials this winter.

The government says pensioners and others struggling to heat their homes or afford other essential items over the colder months should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them, while details on the latest scheme for local authorities and councils will be communicated in the coming weeks.

An estimated £79 million will also be given to devolved administrations via the Barnett formula. Administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can choose how to allocate this additional funding.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we have to take tough decisions to fix the foundations of our economy.

“But extending the Household Support Fund is the right thing to do – provide targeted support for those who need it most as we head into the winter months.”

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “We are extending the Household Support Fund for the next six months because it is a lifeline for people who are struggling with the cost of living.

“The dire inheritance we face means more people are living in poverty now than 14 years ago – and this government is taking immediate action to prevent a cliff edge of support for the most vulnerable in our society.

“At the same time, we are taking action to fix the foundations of our country through our plans to grow the economy, make work pay, and Get Britain Working again.”
The government says it is exploring options around how best to provide sustainable support to vulnerable households in the longer term while the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce develops a strategy to tackle the root causes of poverty, and the Get Britain Working White Paper, to be set out in the autumn, will aim to develop measures to reduce inactivity and help people to find better paid and more secure jobs.